The Backroads Tour

From May through July 2026, the Backroads Tour will travel coast to coast, hosting intimate community concerts that bring together artists, organizers, and local leaders to celebrate the rebellious joy that built America and the people who are carrying on that tradition today.

RuralFunding.org

Rural Funding is a website we built to improve access to federal grant information for rural communities. Enter your county and see grants ranked by relevance — based on USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, Census demographics, and program eligibility criteria.

Proudly Rural Photos Series

Rural Progress is on a mission to rebuild an empowered, thriving, and equitable rural America. That's why, we launched the "Proudly Rural" Photo Library to change the way outsiders view rural people and the way rural people envision themselves.

Rural Showcase Webinars

We host a monthly webinar series called "The Rural Showcase." This is a space to celebrate and learn from people and organizations who are seeing positive momentum in their work across rural America. Each month, we feature one person or group making a difference — whether it’s building stronger local economies, advancing community projects, or organizing for change. The goal is simple: to share what’s working, connect with each other, and inspire new ideas for rural progress.

Rural Defenders Cohort

The Rural Defenders Union (RDU) is a national leadership development program designed to advance Rural Progress’s mission by identifying, resourcing, and connecting rural leaders on the front lines of democratic, economic, and cultural change. RDU focuses on rural leaders navigating real-time threats to local democratic institutions that are often overlooked by funders, policymakers, and national organizations.